Sweden's Prince Carl Phillip and wife expecting third child

ENTERTAINMENT

Sweden's Prince Carl Phillip and wife expecting third child

Published Friday, December 11, 2020 11:28AM EST

Swedish Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia

Swedish Prince Carl Philip, right, and Sofia Hellqvist, left, when they announced their engagement at a press conference at The Stockholm Palace, in Stockholm, Friday, June 27, 2014. (AP / Jonas Ekstromer)

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STOCKHOLM -- Sweden's Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia said Friday they are expecting their third child.

The prince, son of Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and fifth in the line of succession, and his wife said they are 鈥渉appy and excited, and looking forward to welcoming our third child.鈥�

The royal household said Sofia is doing well and the birth is expected for March-April.

The 37-year-old prince wed Sofia Hellqvist, now 36, in June 2015. They said the 鈥渘ew little member of our family鈥� would be a sibling to their sons, Prince Alexander and Prince Gabriel.

The king is Sweden's head of state, but his duties are ceremonial and he holds no political power.

The royal family is hugely popular in Sweden and the monarchy enjoys widespread support despite the egalitarianism that otherwise characterizes society in the Nordic country.